Orion wants to eventually return to putting power cables underground in Christchurch.
The lines company has approval from Civil Defence to build temporary overhead cables and a new substation to meet winter power needs in the suburbs of New Brighton, Dallington and Bromley.
Chief executive, Roger Sutton, has been holding meetings with residents to explain what is planned.
He says Orion wants to return to having underground cables within three years because they are generally more reliable.
